More

Woman Killed When Tire Smashes Into Windshield On Bishop Ford

A woman was killed when a tire fell from a Chevy Blazer and smashed into the windshield of her Nissan Versa on the Bishop Ford Freeway on Wednesday. (Credit: CBS)

Updated 07/23/14 – 3:41 p.m.

CHICAGO (CBS) — A 64-year-old woman was killed Wednesday morning, when a tire flew off an SUV on the Bishop Ford Freeway, and smashed into the windshield of her car.

Illinois State Police said Jovanka Mijatov, of Shererville, Ind., was driving north on Interstate 94 near 130th Street, when a 1997 Chevy Blazer traveling south lost a tire, which flew over the median and smashed into the windshield of Mijatov’s 2011 Nissan Versa.

“It’s a horrible accident,” Illinois State Police Sgt. Jeff Dybeck said. “It’s a tragic incident, and it’s under investigation. Accidents like that do occur, and the origin of it we’re not sure yet.”

Mijatov was critically injured, and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she was pronounced dead.

The driver of the SUV was not injured after the vehicle lost its tire. Police said both drivers were wearing seatbelts.

Authorities closed all but one lane of the inbound Bishop Ford for more than three hours after the crash, backing up traffic for several miles.

The woman driving the Blazer, 48-year-old Mariana Blanco, of Hammond, was issued citations for no valid insurance, no valid registration, and use of unsafe tires.

The Blazer she was driving did not have any license plates. Dybeck said she might have had a temporary registration.